USMMA Regimental Band and Color Guard in NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade | U.S. Merchant Marine Academy familiar Irish and American tunes including Life on the Ocean Wave McNamara s Band and a George M Cohan medley which included Over There and Give My Regards to Broadway Rear Admiral James A Helis Superintendent said We are fortunate to have such a wonderful band at USMMA We are very proud of how they represented the Academy at the parade It was a great day The Regimental Band has a long history of playing at significant events since it began in 1943 They have represented the Academy at all the Presidential Inaugural Parades the Miss America Pageant the Macy s Thanksgiving Day Parade the Cotton Bowl Half Time Show on New Year s Day and countless other national and international events A singular honor was bestowed upon the Band in 1999 by the descendants of the late George M Cohan In 1917 while living in Kings Point home of the Academy Mr Cohan composed Over There the anthem to America s doughboys serving in World War I for which he was later presented a Congressional Gold Medal by President Franklin Roosevelt the only American song to be so recognized The Band was instrumental in helping win the fight to save Cohan s historic home in Kings Point just a quarter mile from the Academy gate In appreciation Cohan s granddaughters Helen Ronkin Lafaso and Mary Ronkin Ross granted to the Band the right to be called George M Cohan s Own for now and the future Thus Kings Point became the First federal academy band with an officially bestowed title The Band s Director of Music is Captain Kenneth R Force USMS CAPT Force who is an Honorary Alumnus of the U S Merchant Marine Academy has dedicated many years of service to the USMMA and the Regimental Band

Original URL path: https://www.usmma.edu/about/communications/usmma-regimental-band-and-color-guard-nyc-st-patrick%E2%80%99s-day-parade (2016-02-14)Open archived version from archive

DOT Chief of Staff Visits USMMA | U.S. Merchant Marine Academy from the midshipmen about their experiences at the Academy Ms Feinberg toured the campus and became familiar with many of the courses and opportunities that are offered to midshipmen Captain Elwood Baumgart Professor of Marine Engineering demonstrated the Engine Simulator and explained how each engineering student completes a minimum of 300 days at sea and earns additional Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping STCW competencies on the simulator Then Captain John Hagedorn Professor of Marine Transportation invited Ms Feinberg aboard the Full Mission Bridge Simulator Ms Feinberg was on the bridge during a simulated exercise aboard a vessel transiting New York Harbor Captain Hagedorn explained how the USMMA Sea Year experience and simulator experience make USMMA graduates fully prepared to take responsibility for a vessel immediately upon graduation Dr Jerry Doumas Head of the Department of Math and Science later showed Ms Feinberg more traditional classrooms and labs After visiting the academic spaces Ms Feinberg visited the midshipmen living spaces She was escorted through the barracks by Midshipman Katherine Franchois the Regimental Operations Officer and the Midshipman Connor McGowan the Regimental Commander MIDN Franchois said I was happy that Ms Feinberg took the time to come to Kings Point and endure the rainy weather just to see the changes and strides the Academy has been making in the past year It shows us the midshipmen that the DOT and Maritime Administration really do care about us and our education The culmination of Feinberg s visit was lunch with Regiment of Midshipmen The entire Regiment welcomed Ms Feinberg just before she joined them for lunch Dining together gave Ms Feinberg the opportunity to learn first hand about the experiences of midshipmen at USMMA MIDN McGowan said Touring of our barracks and having lunch with Ms Feinberg was a great experience I

USMMA Will Sponsor 2014 Green Earth Day Hands-on Events | U.S. Merchant Marine Academy appreciation of our blue planet with a focus on the oceans encourgages its sustainability and educates local youth about the importance of taking care of the environment The event is also part of the New York Section s Annual Chemists Celebrate Earth Day effort Community youth ages 5 17 and their families are cordially invited to join the USMMA midshipmen and faculty in this celebration during the following programs Saturday

USMMA Hosts Another Successful Blood Drive | U.S. Merchant Marine Academy its second blood drive of 2014 USMMA in partnership with Long Island Blood Services hosts three blood drives each year Over the course of the day 208 units were collected This is a two year record high for USMMA and an almost 40 increase over prior drives for all Months of March April at USMMA A lot of lives will be saved thanks to your donations said Mr Rick Sager Administrator of the Department of Health Services Emergency Medical Services He thanked all who participated including faculty staff midshipmen MIDN and individuals from the local community He said I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation for the outstanding efforts of the Midshipmen Health Emergency Services Staff and especially our EMS Officers Regimental Emergency Services Commanding Officer MIDN Nick Skogen Regimental Emergency Services Executive Officer MIDN Sean Pittman Regimental Emergency Services Operations Officer MIDN David Baker Regimental Emergency Services Training Officer MIDN Chris Anthony Also Regimental Emergency Services Commanding Officer Petty Officer MIDN Kevin Quinn Regimental Emergency Services Executive Officer Petty Officer MIDN Parker Amy A very special recognition goes to our Regimental Emergency Services Training Officer MIDN Chris Anthony MIDN Anthony has been instrumental with

USMMA "Class of 2017" Officially Become Midshipmen | U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 2017 as Midshipmen I am very proud of the class of 2017 for what they have accomplished This was an unusual and challenging year for them but they remained motivated bonded as a class and accomplished what they needed to in order to earn recognition as Fourth Class Midshipmen The Plebes assembled in Ackerman Auditorium for a scheduled regimental period not knowing if they would hear the long awaited announcement After a briefing by Commander Andrew McCarthy Supervisory Training Officer they were told that they had five minutes to change into boiler suits and muster in formation to commence with recognition activities Regimental Commander MIDN Connor McGowan addressed the Fourth Class He said Class of 2017 congratulations on your achievement in becoming 4 th classmen I am honored to be able to welcome the class as a full part of the Regiment of Midshipmen Let no one tell you that your accomplishment is not great You have overcome the great challenge of plebe year and grown together in forming your class As part of the Regiment of Midshipmen you are now directly responsible for how the regiment operates functions and changes It is now just as much your regiment as

2014 "Shipping-Out" Fair is a Great Success | U.S. Merchant Marine Academy by representatives of 20 US Flag shipping companies a non profit organization seeking shipboard volunteers aboard a medical relief ship three major maritime unions and all branches of the armed services Captain Gene Albert said We are currently experiencing high demand for licensed officers the sea going job market is excellent for the Class of 2014 The fair began with welcoming remarks by Deputy Superintendent Rear Admiral Susan L Dunlap She thanked the many representatives in attendance saying All midshipmen accept a commitment to serve the nation s marine transportation and defense needs upon graduation The Academy is committed to introducing midshipmen to the many opportunities open to them that will fulfill their service obligation During the fair hiring managers discussed opportunities with midshipmen and collected resumes Several stayed an extra day to conduct interviews with the graduating class Mr Robert Gans Recruiter for Military Sealift Command MSC said We return to the United States Merchant Marine Academy several times each year because we are not just trying to fill jobs we are looking for leaders who will serve our nation Midshipman Higa said The job fair broadened my view of what is available upon graduation Shipping Out Day is

United States Merchant Marine Academy Participates in Cyber Defense Exercise | U.S. Merchant Marine Academy hands on realistic team based environment which is designed to enhance the abilities of the nation s brightest future military leaders to meet the challenges of safe computing In preparation each school created a network of computers servers routers and switches to provide an array of services you would use in your office Once each Academy was connected to the NSA via a router the challenge of keeping the NSA out of their network began Over the course of four very intense days participants had to fend off computer attacks from the NSA Students manned the lab from 0800 2100 Most exercise attacks occurred during the regular academic day with a an afternoon briefing to discuss the technical issues that occurred during the exercise After 1600 students quickly rebuilt the compromised network and worked on protecting the system from the next morning s expected attack Attacks continued through Thursday afternoon which tested to each participant s intellectual and physical limits USMMA participated with only 9 students Our team was thoroughly exhausted at the end of the competition as they were also attending classes and managing other Academic responsibilities throughout the week said LCDR David Pulis CDX Club Advisor and Assistant

Original URL path: https://www.usmma.edu/about/communications/united-states-merchant-marine-academy-participates-cyber-defense-exercise (2016-02-14)Open archived version from archive

T/V Kings Pointer Ties Up at the United States Merchant Marine Academy | U.S. Merchant Marine Academy departed Jacksonville bound for the James River Reserve Fleet in November of 2013 This final sea trial also served as the T V Kings Pointer s first training cruise It was an exciting trip for the crew The training mission ended at Ft Eustis on the James River where the T V Kings Pointer joined the James River Reserve Fleet JRRF and tied up starboard side to her sister ship NASA s M V Freedom Star The next voyage for the T V Kings Pointer was supposed to be her return to the Academy sometime in the spring of 2014 However January 4 th the Captain was put on notice about a possible activation in support of the M V Cape Ray s activation as part of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons OPCW Destruction Mission In just three days the T V Kings Pointer had to be fully crewed and ready for sea The reserve M V Cape Ray had been activated and fitted with mobile hydrolysis units for the destruction of chemical weapons and would be doing a 4 5 day sea trial with more personnel aboard than her safety equipment would support The USCG would only allow the mission to proceed if there was a rescue standby vessel nearby T V Kings Pointer with her two support boats low and open deck and ability to maneuver in close quarters to personnel in the water was a perfect match for the mission The ship handled the seas well and stayed in a position to support the M V Cape Ray while staying in protected waters to keep the ship and crew in a condition to support the mission T V Kings Pointer returned to her berth at the James River Reserve Fleet on Tuesday morning January